Water sealed drinking fountain



P 4, 4- G. c. TODD El m. 1,972,366

WATER SEALED DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed Nov. 23. 1931 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED *s-T -rgs 1,972,366 WATER SEALED DRINKING FOUNTAIN George 0. Todd and William H. Swissler,

Chicago, Ill.

Application November 23, 1931, Serial No. 576,742

12 Claims. (01. 299-12) This invention relates in general to a sanitary drinking fountain and has moreparticular reference to a movable jet member normally'below. the surface 'of the water and movable when in use to a position above the water level.

The principal object of the inventionis in the provision of a sanitary drinking fountain in which the jet member is protected when not in use by the water above it in the drinking'cup and when in use by the water which flowsfrom the jet, thereby eliminating dirt, dust, germs and other objectionable matter and preventing the engagement of dirt and the like, from the'jet member at all times.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a simple and eflicient device which may be easily applied to existing drinking fountains without requiring any material change in the fittings, and which maybe applied as an original installation. 1

Other objects of the invention will appear hereafter, the preferred construction being illustrated in the accompanying drawing. 1 In the drawing,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a drinking fountain of a well-known type embodying this invention i Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the present invention showing the parts in their normal position;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section showing the parts in raised or drinking position; and

r Fig. 4 is a perspective ofone of the parts.

In drinking fountains as now used, the :water jet plug is fixed in position either above adrinking bowl or above a drip receptacle so that the overflow from the jet plug willfall back into the receptacle and be carried away. When the jet plug is not in use the water does not wet or cover the plug and it 'is open and exposed for contact with any dirt, germs, and the like, which may engage it. It is often engaged with the sticky and dirty lips and fingers of children and other users and the force of the water is not suflicient to wash it clean.

The preesnt invention overcomes all of these objections by providing a jet member which is normally housed in a cup or bowl and below the surface of water contained inthe bowl, the jet member being moved by the drinking water which comes therefrom as soon as a valve or faucet is opened, to raise it above thesurface of the water and to discharge the drinking water therefrom above the surface of the water in the cup, This prevents contact with the jet member of any dirt or germs and instead of stic'kyor dirty lips and hands being applied to the dry surface'of a jet member, theymust be applied to the wet surface which is aipartial protection against the adherence of dirt and other foreign matterr Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a drinking fountain is shown inFig. 1 having a faucet 5 with an operating handle or lever 6 for discharging water from a source of supply through apipe .7 to the drinking fountain, which comprises an overflow bowl .8 of metal or the like, having a lower-discharge pipe 9. Within the bowl the pipe 7:hasia threaded fitting. 10 to which the fountain head is attached. In the ordinary fountain, the fountain head consists simply of a rounded nozzle with an opening or a number of openings for discharging a stream Jor'streams of water depending upon the opening of the faucet; sometimes a cup of glass or the. like is positioned above the overflow bowl 8 .and.the. fountain headprojects above it. In the; present invention a pipe fitting 11 is threaded on the end of the fitting 10 and a water cup 12 is secured thereto by a headed plug 13 inserted through an opening in the bottom of the cup and having a washer 14 between the head of the cup and the plug and a washer-l5 between the cup and theadjacent end of the fitting 11 which are held tightly placeby threading the plug into the fitting.

Extending upwardly in the cup 12 is a tube 16 having a .threadedportion at its lower end connected by means of abushing 1'7 with the inside of the plug 13 and making a fixed and watertightconnection. At the upper end of the tube 16 is an outwardly extending flange 18 and surrounding the tube is a short spring section 19. Freely slidable upon the tube 16 is a collar 20 which is placed thereon'before the 'tube is attached to the, plug 13 and the inner edge of this collar fits the tube loosely to slide freely thereon.: In the lower portion of the tube are a number of perforations 21 through which-a portion of the water may be directed to provide a cleanout and overflow for the cup 12 when the water is turned on, as indicated in Fig. 3. To themside of collar 20 is attached a sleeve 22 which fits loosely about the upper flange 18 of the tube 16 allowing it to move freely thereon.

A jet' plug 23is threaded on the inside of the upper end of the. sleeve 22 providing an internal shoulder and between this shoulder and the upper end of the tube'16 is inserted a head 24 of' a bafiie. member 25 having a stem 26 preferably angular in form which extends loosely withinjthe tube 16. In the upper face of the head 24 are cross slots 27 with peripheral notches 28 at the ends of the; slots to admit water from the tube 16 through the notches 28 and slots 27 and below the shoulder of the plug 23 toward the center and out of the discharge opening 29 at the center of the jet plug 23.

With this construction it is apparent that the jet member which comprises the jet plug 23, the attached sleeve 22 and collar 20 are movable reciprocably to the flange tube 16 and that the upward movement of the jet member is cushioned by the spring 19 surrounding the tube. The downward movement is cushioned by means of a washer 30 which rests on the top of the plug 3 so that the movement of the jet member is cushioned in both directions and makes and ob jectionable or sharp striking noise. A cover 31. is

preferably pressed upon or otherwise secured-t0 the plug 23 and collar 20 of the jet member and may have an enameled or-oth'er pleasing coating or finish.

Movement is imparted to the jet member by the engagement of the water admitted the tube 16 and engaging the head 24, most of the water passing outwardly through. the jet opening, 29 but a small portion of the water passing outwardly through the perforations 21' se that a swirl or flow of liquid is produced within the cup 12, as shown in Fig. 3, to clean out and remove the dirt, saliva, or impurities whichmay be lodged within the cup 12'. The movement imparted to the jet member is suzflicient to raise it from a position well below the top or water level in the cup 12', as shown in Fig. 2, through and above the normal water level and preferably above the top of the cup as shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the pressure of the water or other liquid is cut ofi the jet member drops belowthe surface of the water within the cup. and. rests upon the washer 30, its movement being also cushioned by the water itself, and with its upper end covered and protected by the water seal produced by the level of water in thezcup 12. i

This construction is easilyv substituted for an ordinary perforated jet plug which has no protection or water seal, which may be used either With .or without an overflow bowl or. receptacle, and it may be installed in connection with valves and faucets of different kinds as original equipment. As the parts are threaded and secured tightly together there is nothing about thejet member or the other parts of the fountain to become clogged, to. wear, or to get out of order, and a fountain of this kind may be used indefinitely without requiring rep'air or replacement.

We claim:

1. A drinking fountain having a liquid holding cup and an inner water supply tube, a jet member extending about and mounted on said tube for limited reciprocating movement and means within the jet member engaged by water from the tube for raising the jet member when water is discharged from the tube.

2. In a drinking fountain, a liquid holding cup and an inner water supply tube, a jet member surrounding and mounted for reciprocating movement thereon, a contact member within, the jet member engaged by-water from within the tube to move the jet member above the tube to a discharging position when water under pressure is discharged from the tube.

3. In a drinking fountain, a supply tube, abaflle member slidabie in the tube and having. a head engaged by liquid from the tube, a jet member surrounding the tube and engaged by the head for movement thereby, a cup to contain liquid in which the jet member is emersed and means for limiting the movement of the jet member with respect to the tube.

4. In a fountain head, a discharge tube, a jet member having a limited movement thereon, a baflle member having a stem extending into the tube and a head for engaging the jet member to move it with respect to the tube when liquid is discharged therefrom.

5. A drinking fountain comprising a cup, at supply tube extending through the bottom of the cup, a jet member movable upon the tube, means for projecting the upper end of the jet member above the upper edge of the cup when liquid is discharged. from. the tube, and means for discharging liquid from the lower end of the jet member within the cup when liquid is discharged from the tube.

6. A fountain head comprising a water containing cup, a discharge tube therein, a jet member slidable upon the: tubexhaving; a discharge opening extending beyond the tube and a baflie member movable with the jet member for discharging a portion of the water from the tube at the discharge end oithe jet member and a clear ance space between the jet member and the tube within the cup for discharging a portion 0! the water from the lower end of the jet member sur rounding the tube.

7. In a drinking fountain, a cup for containing liquid, a tube extending through the bottom of the cup, means for making a water-tight connection between the: tubeand the cup, a jet member slidable upon the exterior of the tube within the cup, means for limiting the movement; of the member with respect to the tube, a. spring surrounding the tube for cushioning; the upward 'mcvement of the jet member, a washer surrounding the tube for cushioning the downward movement of the member and means for moving the member with. respect to the tube when liquid is discharged therefrom.

8 A drinking fountain. comprising an overflow containing cup,a water admission tube extending through the bottom and means for making a water-tight connection between the tube and the cup, a jet member movable onthe outside of the tube from a position within the cup to a discharge position above the edge of the cup, means including a flange on the tube and a projection on the jet member for limiting the upward movement of the member, a water bafie member. at the top of and extending within the tube and engaging the jet member to raise it by the pressure of, water and. having openings therethrough to discharge water from the top of the jet member when it is raised.

c. A drinking iountain'structure in accordarme with claim 8, in which the jet member fits loosely about the flange and at its lower end, whereby some of the water which engages the battle mem ber will be directed downwardly within the cup to discharge dirt and other materialv by overflow from the upper edge of the cup.

10. In a drinking fountain, a liquid containing cup, at discharge tube therein and a jet member movable on the tube having means forming an integral shoulder, a baffle member-having a head to rest on top of the tube and openings therethrough to direct liquid from the tube through the upper end at the jetmember, the head engaging the shoulder or the jet member to raise it when water'is discharged from the tube, and having a stem extending within the tube for guiding it andholding it in place, and means to limit (50 cup, at discharge tube fixed therein extending upwardly from the bottom of the cup and having an outer flange at its upper end, a jet member movable thereon having an inward flange at upper and lower ends to engage the flange of the tube and limit its movement, and a battle member having an apertured head to engage within the upper inward flange of the jet member for moving it upwardly and having a stem extending within the tube for guiding its movement therein.

GEORGE C. TODD. WILLIAM H. SWISSLER. 

